Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



GEORGE H TIBBETS.

Improvement in Breech-loading Fire-arms.

PatehtedFeb.13,1872.

E a E J ivrrnn Snares GEORGE H. TIBBETS, OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES M. WHITTE- MORE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRQVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADlNG FIREARMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Trnnnrs, of Augusta, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a central longitudinal section of a portion of the barrel and stock of a fire-arm embracing my improvements with side view of the lock devices. Fig. 2 represents a similar view, showing the hammer drawn back. .In this view the mainspring and breechplate are shown in section.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination with the breech of the barrel, diseharging-hammer, and mainspring of a sliding breech-plate, as hereinafter described;

In the drawing, the parts marked A represent the barrel, chambered at the breech'to receive the cartridge B. 0 indicates the stock 5 D, the discharging-hammer; E, the mainspring; F, the sliding recoil piece or breechplate; and G, the trigger. The sliding breechplate F is fitted to move up and down in suitable grooves formed at the inner sides of the stock or lock-plates; and in the rear end of the barrel A the lower portion ofthe breech-plate is perforated with an opening, F, of a suflicient size to permit the passage of, the cartridge through it into the chamber of the bore, and it also has a small opening in its upper part to receive the discharging-pin d of the hammer l). The end of the mainspring E, which is in this instance forked, passes through and works in asnitable opening at the lower end of the plate F below the cartridge openin g, the parts being so arranged that the spring E, when relieved, will draw down the breech plate F to the position shown in Fig. 1. The breech-phite may be made of greater or less thickness, as desired, to adapt it to the different classes of fire-arms. The hammer is arranged to swingon the pivot a, and below said pivot it is extended forward to form the breeehplate opening toe I, which extends beneath the plate F and mainspring E, in such a manner that when the hammer is swung back the toe I presses upward upon the plate F and and I do hereby declare the fol-- mainspring E and moves them upward to the position shown in Fig. 2, and when the trigger G is pulled off the spring, pressing down upon the toe I, causes the hammer to strike forward and discharge the cartridge, at the same time drawing down .the breech-plate to close the breech in rear of the cartridge and receive the recoil of the shell. It will be ob. served that when the hammer is back the breech is open 5 and when the hammer is swung forward the breech is closed; the plate F and hammer D always moving in concert by the action of the mainspring E and should the cartridgebe but partially inserted within the chamber, so as to prevent the descent of the breech-plate F, the descent of the hammer is also prevented from the fact that the force of the mainsprin g would then be whollysnstained by the plate F. The hammer D is provided with a backward projecting shield piece, 11), for closing the opening in the upper part of the lock cavity when the hammer is down.

The central portion of the toe I is shown prolonged and extends up through the fork of the mainspring; for operating a cartridge-extractor, K, which is brought into action by pressing the hammer back to the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. But as this cartridge-extractor and the prolongation of the toe I, together with the slot in the main spring, are the inventions of Major James M. Whittemore, who intends to make application for Letters Patent therefor, I make no claim to said devices, and further description of them herein is unnecessary.

Having, described my improvements in breech loading fire-arms, what I claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with the discharginghammerD of the sliding recoil piece or breechplate F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with the dischargingha-mmer D and barrel A of the sliding breechplate F and mainspring E, said parts being constructed and arranged substantially in the manner described and for the purposes stated.

' GEORGE H. TIBBETS. Witnesses:

P. F. SANBORN, SELDEN CONNOR. 

